Wall Street Watch This Week: Let's Start Playing Games
The tired video game industry needs a spark -- and it may get it with this week's release of the next installment of the record-setting Call of Duty franchise.
Activision-Blizzard
Why Activision Blizzard Will Never Be Great Again
Yes, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 posted a new sales record last week. But Activision Blizzard just can't keep a hold on fickle gamers. Guitar Hero hit a high note, then went silent, and now World of Warcraft is losing population fast.
'Second Life' Inventors Expanding Gaming Universe
In August, the Second Life community learned that the company responsible for their virtual world was planning to expand its universe. Linden Lab CEO Rod Humble has been vague, mentioning only that his company is working on a new mobile product separate from its pioneering project. Now we know more.
10 Stocks That Are Cheaper Than You Think
There are several stocks out there that seem expensive, but only in the rearview mirror -- especially shares of fast-growing tech firms, or companies that do great business overseas. Read on to find out how to spot a stock worth buying.
5 Things To Watch Next Week: Murdoch Mania, Soda Wars and More
Even as investors reel from the stock-market roller coaster this week, Wall Street is moving on, with plenty of news on the way. Next week will bring headlines about retail and gaming earnings, as well as quarterly reports from News Corp., SodaStream and some newly public Chinese firms.
Next Week's Big News: Cable TV, China.com, More
Plenty of big names are set to report their earnings in August, including the country's largest cable and satellite television providers, several of China's leading dot-coms, radio giant Sirius XM, car rental companies Zipcar and Avis, and the two biggest video game developers.
Activision Sues Video-Game Rival Electronic Arts Over Alleged Poaching
Activision Blizzard has added video-game competitor Electronic Arts to its $400 million countersuit against two former executives of "Call of Duty" creator Infinity Ward, claiming that EA tried to lure the executives away while they were still under contract with Activision.
More Downloads, Fewer Discs: U.S. Video Game Sales Remain Flat
U.S. gamers spent about the same amount of money on video games last year as they did in 2009, even as sales of consoles and other hardware took a plunge. Purchases of physical game discs slid 5%, in spite of the record-breaking success of "Call of Duty: Black Ops," but downloadable and social-network games made up the difference.
Online Video-Game Pirates Outgun the Publishers
At least 5.2 million copies of Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops were illegally downloaded between its Nov. 9 release and the end of 2010. All told, more than 19 million people illegally downloaded five of the top-selling games of 2010. As broadband spreads, so does the piracy.
'Call of Duty: Black Ops' Video Game Sales Soar Past $1 Billion
Activision Blizzard's "Call of Duty: Black Ops" video game has raked in more than $1 billion in sales since its Nov. 9 release, making it the fastest-selling video game in history -- and one of the fastest-selling entertainment products of all time.
Most Successful Video-Game Debut Ever: 'Call of Duty: Black Ops'
Videogame publisher Activision Blizzard said its "Call of Duty: Black Ops" has had the most successful entertainment debut ever, generating more than $650 million in global sales in five days.
New 'Call of Duty' Breaks First-Day Gaming Sales Record
Videogame publisher Activision Blizzard said its "Call of Duty: Black Ops" set a new first-day videogame sales record, generating about $360 million in U.S. and U.K. sales within the first 24 hours of its release Tuesday. The company already has sold 5.6 million copies.
Activision Blizzard Shoots Past Its Earnings Targets
Activision Blizzard posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results thanks to strong holiday sales of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 -- last year's best-selling video-game title. The company also initiated a dividend and announced a $1 billion share repurchase program.
